Exploring barriers to oral healthcare experienced by caregivers living with intellectual disability: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objective: People with intellectual disability often have poor oral health, which can negatively impact their quality of life. It has been unclear which barriers that contributes to this, especially among institutionalized intellectual disability in Padang city. This qualitative study explores the underlying barriers to oral healthcare from the perspective of the caregivers as well as people who living with them. Material and Methods: Qualitative exploration was undertaken using in-depth interviews with caregivers in the public intellectual disability institution, Padang city. Data were collected from three caregivers. Thematic analysis identified key themes to explore in depth of the barrier oral healthcare among individuals with ID used N-vivo software. Results: Both individual and caregiver barriers to oral healthcare are offered to people with intellectual disability. These barriers include severity disorder, lack of focus and uncontrolled dietary intake. Caregivers lack knowledge and information regarding their rights to oral healthcare for individuals with special needs, the imbalance ratio caregiver and financial problem were also barriers. Conclusion: Individuals with ID face several barriers in maintain oral hygiene such as severity of disorder, the lack of attention, imbalance ratio of caregivers and children, dietary intake, oral health education of caregivers, and financial problems.